FBI investigates allegation of child sex abuse at Fort Meade

Nov. 8, 2013 - 06:00AM
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The FBI is investigating allegations of possible child sexual abuse at Fort Meade, Md., involving a former civilian worker.

The investigation stated in August when civilian law enforcement officials notified Fort Meade authorities of the allegations, according to Mary Doyle, chief of media relations at Fort Meade.

Doyle would not discuss the details of the allegation or the ages of the victim or victims.

The alleged incident took place the Fort Meade Youth center which on weekdays is an after-school program for children in grades 6 through 8 and on weekend holds programs for children in grades 1 through 5. The Youth center serves children of military and civilian Defense Department families.

Doyle said the former employee, whom she would not identify, voluntarily left his job at the youth center in 2012. Doyle said the employee passed a background check which found nothing that would bar his employment at the center.

Youth center officials sent letters to all families whose children attend center, Doyle said, informing them of the FBI investigation. The post has also set up a call center to field family questions about the case.

Doyle said the center has installed new security measures since the incident came to light. Army Secretary John McHugh has ordered a a review of all youth programs to ensure that there is a proper level of supervision and oversight, according to a Fort Meade press release.

Richard Wolf, a spokesman for the Baltimore office of the FBI, declined to comment on the case.

An Army Times investigation found that nearly 30,000 children in military families were abused or neglected between 2003 and 2012; more than 118 of them died from the abuse.